Physiology of Athlete
Introduction:
The capacity to perform physical exercise has been of paramount importance in the continuous process of animals’ adaptation to the environment throughout evolution.
When challenged with any physical task, the human body responds through a series of integrated changes in function that involve most, if not all, of its physiological systems.
Movement requires activation and control of the musculoskeletal system; the cardiovascular and respiratory systems provide the ability to sustain this movement over extended periods. When the body engages in exercise training several times a week or more frequently, each of these physiological systems undergoes specific adaptations that increase the body’s efficiency and capacity. After a twelve week program consisting of both aerobic and anaerobic training subject A should exhibit chronic physiological adaptations in the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
Skeletal
The role of aerobic exercise on the skeletal system can have chronic adaptations, bones become stronger and denser as a result of the demands placed on them through exercise, this can increase bone mineral content; namely calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate (Chesnut, 1995).
The type of exercise that builds bone strength is load bearing exercises that work against gravity (Subject A includes running twice a week). Bones are strengthened as a result of the stress from exercise. Sharkey and Gaskill state ‘activities such as running, can increase bone density in turn increasing the strength of bones and their ability to cope with greater stress’.
The role of resistance training in increasing or maintaining bone mass is not well characterized. Endurance training has little demonstrated positive effect on bone mineral and mass. Nonetheless, even small increases in bone mass gained from endurance or resistance training can help prevent or delay the process of osteoporosis (Drinkwater 1994).
The
The capacity to perform physical exercise has been of paramount importance in the continuous process of animals’ adaptation to the environment throughout evolution.
When challenged with any physical task, the human body responds through a series of integrated changes in function that involve most, if not all, of its physiological systems.
Movement requires activation and control of the musculoskeletal system; the cardiovascular and respiratory systems provide the ability to sustain this movement over extended periods. When the body engages in exercise training several times a week or more frequently, each of these physiological systems undergoes specific adaptations that increase the body’s efficiency and capacity. After a twelve week program consisting of both aerobic and anaerobic training subject A should exhibit chronic physiological adaptations in the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
Skeletal
The role of aerobic exercise on the skeletal system can have chronic adaptations, bones become stronger and denser as a result of the demands placed on them through exercise, this can increase bone mineral content; namely calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate (Chesnut, 1995).
The type of exercise that builds bone strength is load bearing exercises that work against gravity (Subject A includes running twice a week). Bones are strengthened as a result of the stress from exercise. Sharkey and Gaskill state ‘activities such as running, can increase bone density in turn increasing the strength of bones and their ability to cope with greater stress’.
The role of resistance training in increasing or maintaining bone mass is not well characterized. Endurance training has little demonstrated positive effect on bone mineral and mass. Nonetheless, even small increases in bone mass gained from endurance or resistance training can help prevent or delay the process of osteoporosis (Drinkwater 1994).
The
References: Chesnut CH III. (1993). Bone mass and exercise. American Journal of Medicine 1993; 95(5A Suppl):34S–36S. Drinkwater B. C. H. (1994). McCloy Research Lecture: does physical activity play a role in preventing osteoporosis? Res Q Exerc Sport 65: 197–206. Green HJ, Jones LL, Painter DC.(1990).Effects of short-term training on cardiac function during prolonged exercise Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.Aug:22(4):488 – 93. Saltin, B. & Rowell, L. B. (1980). Functional adaptations to physical activity and inactivity. Federation Proceedings 39, 1506-1513. Seals, DR., Evans, SL., Davy, KP. & Stevenson, ET (1994) Physiological determinants of 10-km performance in highly trained female runners of different ages.Jounal of Applied Physiology. May 78 (5). Tipton, C. M. & Vailas, A. C. (1990) Bone and connective tissue adaptations to physical activity. In: Exercise, Fitness, and Health (Bouchard, C., Shephard, R. J., Stephens, T., Sutton, J. R. & McPherson, B. D., eds.), pp. 331–344. Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL.